The Nobel Prize is recognized by nearly everyone, but many do not realize what the life of a Nobel-winning scientist consists of nor the path one takes to reach this pinnacle. In The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize, Peter Doherty, PhD, a 1996 Nobel laureate in medicine or physiology, describes his career and gives many insights into what such a life in science involves.

In the introduction, Doherty characterizes science for general readers, noting that it is based on evidence and focused on discovery and innovation. He also sketches his own scientific life, beginning with his desire to be a scientist at a young age and continuing through the years following his Nobel Prize. This cogent overview sets up the rest of the book.